Yan Jia Chi aka Angie developed an interest in Muay Thai seven years ago and now trains in Thailand. (NangFa Muay Thai pic) KOTA KINABALU: Yan Jia Chi may only be 21, but she has already represented Malaysia numerous times on the global Muay Thai stage. Better known as Angie, Yan is a three-time gold medalist in the International Federation of Muaythai Associations (Ifma) Senior World Championship Under-23 division, winning in 2023 (Thailand), 2024 (Greece), and this year in May (Turkey). She also bagged gold in the female Wai Kru solo category at the Ifma Asian Championships in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, this year. In addition, the oldest of three siblings represented Malaysia at the 2024 Paris Olympics. She has made her mark in the Malaysia Games (Sukma), taking home the gold in 2022 (Kuala Lumpur) and again in 2024 in Sarawak. The 2022 win was particularly noteworthy as it was the first time Muay Thai had been included in the Games. Yet, for all her victories, one might be surprised to learn Angie had started out as a musician. "I was actually a pianist," she revealed. "I spent years learning and practising the piano until one day I followed my friend to her gym. "I didn't train, just sat and watched, but when I saw how interesting Muay Thai was, I decided to try my first class - and I just kept going. "Now, I follow a simple schedule: go to class and train in the afternoon for 2.5 hours," said Angie, who is pursuing her studies at a university in Thailand. Her routine changes, however, when she prepares for tournaments - she trains for four to six hours daily in two sessions, morning and evening. Her first-ever competition had been the Karnival Pelapis Kebangsaan Sukan Muay Thai meet in KL in 2019. In May, Angie won the gold at the International Federation of Muaythai Associations Senior World Championship Under-23 in Turkey. (Angie Yan pic) Angie, who was born in Johor and raised in Sabah, has faced her share of challenges. In 2023, both her knees were badly injured and swollen - but, despite needing rest, back-to-back competitions meant she couldn't recuperate properly. "I also couldn't stop training even though my body really needed the break. Physically, the challenge is dealing with training, injuries, soreness, and muscle pain, especially during intense training periods. "Mentally, it's sometimes hard to stay motivated. I try to push myself to perform at my best every time, but often find myself comparing my progress to others. "There are days when I'm tired, doubting myself, or feeling like I'm not improving fast enough," she admitted. 2023 was also the year she began training in Thailand - the birthplace of Muay Thai. "The training there is intense and traditional," she said, adding that she benefits from learning directly from an experienced Thai coach, and being immersed in the culture among high-level athletes. As for the future, she plans to keep improving and compete at even higher levels to bring further recognition to Sabah and Malaysia.